The Chicago Red Stars ended in a 1-1 tie for their home opener this past saturday night. An amazing 5,134 fans showed up to support the team as they took on Saint Louis Athletica. Casey Nogueira netted the only goal to tie the game in the 59th minute of play. The Red Stars dominated in the amount of shots they took but couldn't seem to find the back of the net. It took a rookie to step on the field to get it done! Props to Casey!
Casey Nogueira (Photo Credit - James Smith)
Alright enough of the chit chat, lets get to the good stuff.....
I had the privilege of sitting with the L134 for the majority of the first half,until I was pulled down to the field to do my interview with Coach Hayes, but we will get to that later. If you have never sat with this group before I suggest doing so in the near future! A very entergetic and wild group we have sitting over there! Definitely the life of the party!
As I've
previously stated, I truly believe that the Red Stars have an exceptional, exciting team. They have a surplus of talent that many WPS fans are
not familiar with. If the Red Stars play like they did last week and continue to develop, it will be a good year for Chicago. The potential is endless.
Fingers crossed that the Red Stars have 20 shots against Hope Solo and the Athletica, as they did against Sky Blue FC. And fingers crossed that a few of those 20 shots see the back of the net.
****
Friends of the Stars:
SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!...and some Fridays, Saturdays and Wednesdays too.
Your Chicago Red Stars have announced the 2010 Schedule! Yes!
The league domination (think happy thoughts kiddies) starts Sunday, April 11th against Sky Blue FC in New Jersey. This is going to be a ramped-up launch to the new season so catch the game on Fox Soccer Channel. I vote calling your local watering hole to see if they are carrying the game...Small Bar, The Globe, your crazy neighbor Pavel with cable.
The home opener is the following weekend, Saturday, April 17 vs. Saint Louis Athletica @ 7 p.m. Could be a chilly one but that's what tailgating and some pre-game footie are for. Check out Local 134 for fan activities.
Get excited, it's going to be a great season!
This weekend while I was spending time with some of my soccer loving friends a question came up regarding the placement of Marta now that the LA Sol have folded. It's not a matter of who wants Marta because who wouldn't want her on their team? She has been the women's FIFA Player of the Year since 2006, so there's obviously no denying her talent. If it were 1991 would you turn down Michael Jordan if he had the opportunity to shoot hoops for your team? I highly doubt it.
In any event,
where will Marta go? is now the question on the table. Now that
St. Louis has formally announced their trade with Atlanta, are they hoping to scoop up Marta in the first round of the Sol draft?
If Athletica has the money to bring Marta to the Midwest I am sure we will see Marta wearing Athletica green this season, but if the money isn't there, what team will be able to financially secure a spot for her on their roster?
The dispersal draft will take place on Thursday, February 4th. The Chicago Red Stars have the 4th, 13th and 20th picks from LA's roster. I vote that
Brittany Bock comes back to her hometown, Chicago.
So long, Sol
Sky Blue FC shocked the league on Wednesday when they defeated St. Louis Athletica 1-0. The lone goal came in the 31st minute of play when Yael Averbuch found defender, Keeley Dowling at the top of the box, who hit the ball low and wide as an outstretched Hope Solo was unable to get her hands to this ball.
Highlights from the game, including Dowlings goal can be viewed here:
Unlikely candidates for the a spot in the WPS Championship match, Sky Blue FC will now travel to LA and battle the Sol this Saturday for the Championship title. The game will be on at 2:30PM CT on
FSN and CSN.
For more on the game read
here and
here.
Shannon Boxx of the LA Sol and Natasha Kai of Sky Blue FC come head to head tomorrow in the WPS Championship match. [Photo Credit: Women's Professional Soccer]
Sky Blue FC defeated the Freedom 2-1 in the First Round of playoffs on Saturday, August 15th. If you weren't able to watch the game, check out the highlights below, including goals from Natasha Kai and Francielle. Sky Blue FC will now come head to head with St. Louis Athletica tomorrow in the Super Seminfinal in Fenton, MO at 7PM ET. The game will be aired on FSC.
I knew I needed to come in and help the team out and give that extra fire, that spark. Natasha Kai
The Red Stars played their final match of the year last night in St. Louis and fell to Athletica 2-0 with two goals from Sarah Welsh. They ended their season with a record of 5-10-5.
A young fan joins Chicago Local 134 members on a bus ride to the inaugural Red Stars match on April 4, 2009 in St. Louis
The Red Stars play their final game of the season tonight in St. Louis against Hope Solo and the rest of her Athletica squad. It seems like ages ago when I departed on a bus headed to St. Louis with other Chicago Local 134 members, as well as, Red Stars staff and owners to cheer the ladies on in their inaugural match in April (they defeated St. Louis 1-0 with a second half goal from Lindsay Tarpley).
With momentum on their side after defeating LA Sol 3-1 this Sunday- I hope that the Stars can pull off another moral victory against their midwestern rivals tonight.
Cheers to a bittersweet ending.
Friends of the Red StarsStay tuned for an interview with Red Stars player
Nikki Krzysik!
[Image Credit: www.womensprosoccer.com]
The
Women's Professional Soccer All-Star game will be hosted by St.
Louis. It will take place on August 30, 2009 in the Anheuser-Busch
Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo,
versus elite Swedish club Umeå IK.
WPS All-Star Voting began on July 17th but will continue until July 31st. All-Star voting allows you to vote for (1) goalkeeper, (3) defenders, (5) midfielders, and (2) forwards. The WPS ballot also gives a great option to write-in your favorite player. This is especially helpful for those of you who have a favorite player that isn't originally listed on the ballot.
The WPS All-Star team will be selected by late July in the following way:
11 players - Vote counting 25% fans, 25% media, 25% players, 25% coaches
7 players - At-Large Selections (WPS Commissioner and All-Star Head Coach)
In a unique twist for the first year of the WPS All-Star Game, the All-Star Team head coach will be voted on collectively by the players with the announcement coming in late July.(www.womensprosoccer.com)
More on All-Star voting...
Lindsay Tarpley named WPS player of the week
[Photo Courtesy of the Chicago Red Stars- David Durochik]
Red Stars and USWNT player, Lindsay Tarpley, was named WPS player of the week. Tarpley is one of Chicago's two captains and had an outstanding performance against the Washington Freedom last week, scoring the game winner in the 61st minute of the match.
Related link:
Lindsay Tarpley Named WPS Player of the Week
We love Megan Rapinoe!
[Image Courtesy of Pott Rodriguez]
Megan Rapinoe is the ruby slippered stud of the Red Stars. Remember when she pulled out that killer byicle kick that just missed the net in the beginning of the season? It was great!
Rapinoe was the second player overall to be drafted in the WPS draft- the first pick for the Red Stars. She is also a member of the USWNT along with WPS player of the week, Tarpley, Carli Lloyd and Marian Dalmy.
Read more of Rapinoe's thoughts on the Red Stars and playing with the women's national team in an interview here:
Rapinoe: Red Stars Need to Build on Momentum
